Colorado Reader Feb. 2020: Soil, Water, and Air Stewardship

olorado
Reader
Soil, Water, and Air Stewardship
Think about the world right outside your classroom. What do
you see? Maybe grass, a few trees, a parking lot full of cars,
and other buildings off in the distance?
Nearly everything you can see was
made from natural resources.
Just like us, plants and animals need natural
resources to live! Natural resources are our
treasures to protect. Agriculture depends
on them – and we depend on agriculture.
Sun – The sun is a source of energy for all life.
Plant leaves capture sunlight to make food, or
energy, to grow. Farm animals eat plants. By eating
food from plants and animals, the sun gives us energy too.
Soil – The soil beneath our feet is as important as the air we breathe
and the water we drink. Soil holds water and nutrients plants need.
Animals and people depend on plants for food, so we need soil too.
Water – Plants drink water just like we do! Plant roots absorb water from
the soil. Farm animals also need plenty of clean water to grow and stay
healthy.
Air – Plants and animals need clean air to live. Plants take in carbon dioxide
that we breathe out. Animals and humans breathe in oxygen that plants
release.
What is a natural resource?
A natural resource is something that exists
freely in nature. They are not created
by humans, but humans do use their
supplies to survive and function. There
are two types of natural resources:
nonrenewable and renewable.
Nonrewable resource: cannot be easily
replaced once destroyed; examples
include fossil fuels, rocks, and minerals
Renewable resource: replenishes
itself naturally; examples include
animals, plants, air, soil, and water
Natural resources are all connected in one way
or another. If something happens to one, it will
affect the supply or quality of all the others.
We can protect and preserve our natural
resources through stewardship. A steward
is someone who takes responsibility for
how they use and protect the environment.
They utilize practices that help conserve
our natural resources so generations in the
future can use and enjoy them, as well.
Connecting Colorado educators and students to their food, fiber, fuel, and natural resources.